OUR ADVENTURES IN THE BAYS OF MARS ALAM (PART 1).
We brought with us so many impressions and pleasant memories of these trips that I don’t even know how to present my valuable “wealth” here so that it would be useful and interesting for everyone. But I'll try.
A trip to Marsa this year was planned (since last year) initially for October, although it was spontaneously rescheduled for the second half of September. The transfer was due to many factors - from the situation in Egypt, in connection with the past revolution and the upcoming elections, to the material side of the issue and other circumstances. There was a dream to gather a large team of like-minded people and travel not only around the bays by taxi, but also charter a yacht (the location of the hotel, which is favorable in this sense, near Port Ghalib and Korai, fueled the desire) and visit places that are not accessible from the shore. To this end, Turpravda even put up an "Appeal to lovers of the Red Sea! ", so that they would join us.
We also planned to make the same themed bright T-shirts for everyone. As a result, for our small company at that time, they were made by Turpravda - which was very unexpected and pleasant. The goal was achieved - our "Turpravdovskaya" team did not go unnoticed in the hotel and newcomers joined us every now and then (in fairness, I note that the active work of the team members also contributed), who, as a result, became more experienced. Some thanked all of us for showing them the "other" Red Sea, because, being in Egypt more than once, they could not even imagine that such interesting and useful trips could be. Naturally, we were happy to tell how we met, where these T-shirts came from, etc. In general, our regiment arrived, which is the most pleasant thing.
So, by next year, I hope, the team will be more numerous (many people are already asking about upcoming trips) and we will pull the yacht. But even without a yacht, we had a great holiday! Everyone we met is looking forward to this story and photos on Turpravda. As for the photo, I must admit that for me personally, this is the first experience of shooting underwater, so make a discount.
I had a very difficult task - to describe all our trips, since there are a lot of impressions, meetings at sea, too, but I want to state everything in as much detail and as useful as possible for lovers of the Red Sea. I don't know if I succeeded, but I tried.
The trips of our whole friendly company to the bays in the vicinity of our hotel (and this time Resta Grand Resort 5 * was chosen for a number of reasons) were originally planned, as I already wrote. But we could not even imagine that due to the design features of the pier of this hotel, we would have to travel almost every day.
In the end, we were incredibly happy with it! I am pleased to share our impressions and research with fans of the Red Sea and Marsa Alam in particular.
The surrounding bays were studied at home and in detail. Before leaving, volkis scored all the cards in his tablet and every evening, we had something to do (usually it happened in a bar), before making a decision: "Where are we going tomorrow? ". The goal was not to travel too far from the hotel (based on the unstable situation in Egypt), the financial viability of the trip, as well as the possibility of entering the water from the shore, since you can come and then cuckoo on the shore without finding how to get into the sea .
One couple from our team arrived at the hotel four days early and was looking forward to the arrival of the others, because, having explored all the surroundings, they realized that it was necessary to move away from the "UG" (local reef and its problems) - there and two days more, than enough.
We already knew all these circumstances from correspondence and negotiations, therefore, our first phrase after "hugs" and "kisses" in connection with the long-awaited meeting was: "Your "calm" life is over! ". A sudden decision was immediately made to move forward tomorrow to meet the Red Sea, as we all understand it, since our friends have already lost precious vacation days. And the first trip was chosen bay MARSA SHOONA, which we have already been.
1. MARSA SHOONA (17 km south of the hotel).
We have been there twice this year.
A trip to this bay cost us $45 per minibus - bring it in the morning, pick it up at the appointed time (read about the intricacies of pricing in my review of the hotel itself). For each trip, the car was ordered at 7.30 in the morning (as early as possible after breakfast).
The entrance to this bay is marked with a makeshift barrier and a checkpoint built from boxes, plywood and other improvised materials - the handiwork of a local Bedouin, the "owner" of Shoona. Be prepared that here you will have to pay the "caretaker" of this bay 5 local pounds per person (or 1 dollar). The "owner" of the bay is a colorful man! True, he, poor fellow, has lost some weight compared to last year. At the same time, as before, he runs like a trotter - he does not miss a single car (maybe he lost weight because of that? )! We remembered about the fee from previous trips, therefore, we prepared the money in advance and handed it over to the local "caretaker" with a solemn air. Judging from the negotiations with him (mostly on the fingers), it was clear that he recognized us, especially our conspicuous "handbag" and made it clear that there was no need to bury it (last year's joke), because: "The Bedouin sees everything and everything flogs".
But we already knew this and calmly went towards our beloved sea, literally, with tears in our eyes. In general, upon arrival at the bay, there was a feeling that she met us as relatives, yes, and it seemed to us that we did not leave at all.
Putting on the equipment, our entire team immediately moved along the southern wall of the bay (we did not go along the northern wall, because we know that it has been mercilessly destroyed by yachts and their passengers for a long time) - it was incredibly pleasant to see all the familiar places where every bump is remembered. In the process of admiring this beauty, we swam so far that only the mathematics of time stopped us - at 11.30 a car will come for us, and we still need to return, and, mostly, against the current.
"Shoona" is distinguished by massive schools of fish and interesting "branching" of the reef, as well as medium and shallow depth, which contributes to a comfortable contemplation of its beauties and charms. As elsewhere in Marsa Alam, be sure to meet Bissa turtles here.
Also, there is, not far from the coast, slightly to the left of the center of the bay, a magnificent "coral island". Around him, a true lover of such beauty, you can swim, at least the whole day, and all the time, discovering something new - an ideal place for an underwater photo session, since the depth is not great and the backlight is just right. True, this year, I, zealously rushing to this heavenly place, after visiting it (we didn’t have time to go there on the first day) on my second trip to the bay, went ashore terribly upset. All those massive "invasions" of tourists who fell on this beauty left their sad "trace", then, just like a year ago, the island was like a painted picture. Yes, and the inhabitants there have noticeably diminished. Just some kind of despair - what to do with this barbarism? ! ...Well, it's so - the cry of the soul ...
On our first trip to this bay, we had an unpleasant moment, namely: the driver, who was warned in advance that we needed to be taken back at 11.30, for some reason decided that we would call him when to come for us. But we did not have such an opportunity, since the wallet with his phone number was left with him in the minibus. As a result, we had to wait for him on the shore of the bay with wild excitement and worries for about forty minutes. I note that no one had time to panic, as everyone was impressed by what they saw and the first meeting with the Sea, as well as contemplation of the local "sea" dogs. An interesting point - a whole pack of these animals roams the water, moreover, with skill. Maybe they have learned to find their own food in shallow water, because there is not much alternative in the desert?
The driver eventually came and everything was cleared up. In the future, there were no such jambs, and they always came for us either on time or even in advance.
Each time the carrier received a tip of 1-2 dollars from us (depending on the size of the "team"), maybe a little, but, like, he was satisfied.
2. MARSA MUBARAK (11 km south from the hotel).
It was this bay that was chosen second in a row, since it impressed us so much last year that we literally ate baldness about it for the rest of the partners in a year. As a result, this year we were there three times - and for good reason!
Bargained at a price of 40 dollars per minibus (bring and pick up).
The bay has a sandy shore, in the center of its left side, not far from the shore, huge green turtles and other inhabitants of similar places live - a sandy bottom with grass. Moreover, the length of the beach is decent. From the center of the bay to the right is an absolutely free zone. To the left is a beach blocked by barbed wire fences, with the remains of an unfinished pier for a failed hotel and a military zone.
If you go to the left side, then get ready to pay 1 dollar from the nose for the "military zone" to turn into a beach place. But, for that, there is an excellent beach, and it is not far to swim to the northern wall of the reef. And yet, in this part, it is protected from the winds. I note that the bay is suitable for both good swimmers and "dummies".
On the first trip to MUBARAK we decided to go to the left. Naturally, at first they visited old friends - turtles living at a shallow (1.5-2.5 m) depth and feeding there on succulent shoots of young grass. Because of these turtles, the local government froze the construction of a hotel there (respect! ), which is 50 percent (or maybe more) ready, so hurry up to see this bay before it is completely destroyed. Then, we moved along the north wall towards the Three Corners Hotel. Of course, the beginning of the wall is depressing with its barbaric trampled down by sightseers, as well as traces of mooring yachts and boats.
But, do not be too lazy to swim further, and beyond the exit from the bay, you will see a coral plateau that amazes the imagination - you feel like you are on another planet! "Soaring" above these coral "clouds", you can't think of anything else but contemplation of them and their inhabitants! This splendor is spread over such a huge area that you can endlessly swim up and down, admiring this beauty, forgetting about everything earthly. Huge multi-colored coral "hills" with "wells", crevices and caves amaze the imagination - well, how nature creates this! ? At the bottom of one of the "wells" lives a large handsome turtle Jonathan (as he was called) - this is truly the attraction of this place, he is almost tame, but you should not abuse his patience and gullibility. Large barracudas are frequenters of the reef. The rest of the representatives are also widely represented here in a great assortment.
The second trip of this year to MUBARAK was dedicated to the southern reef, which we have not been to before. Therefore, we did not go to the "forbidden zone", but settled down where the driver dropped us off, that is, in the center of the bay, so as not to swim too far to the wall (fortunately, the weather allowed). As a result, we did not have to pay a dollar, and everyone was satisfied, both floating and not so much - everyone found something to do and was delighted.
We also really liked the southern wall of the bay, especially its labyrinths, which are already outside the bay, however, the current there is decent, so that it may not be comfortable for beginners, again, with a photo it’s already more difficult, since it’s difficult to hang still, and you can’t gape, so as not to endure on the reef. It is noteworthy that we did not see any people, especially excursions there, so the reef is absolutely wild and virgin.
We saw there large representatives (or shoals) of hedgehogs, arotrons, parrots, snappers, rhinos, squids, etc. Groupers, lionfish, stingrays and all other attractive inhabitants are also present. In general, it's interesting! Although, isn't it interesting in the sea? As the old joke goes: "You just don't know how to cook them! ". The corals are also excellent and varied, however, at the beginning of the walls are rather poor, you need to swim further. On the way to the reef and back, of course, we met tortoises ubiquitous there, a guitarist at an average depth, as well as cuttlefish and flounder.
The bay is definitely worth a visit! You will not regret! Our third visit to MUBARAK this year is a different story!
TO BE CONTINUED.
